Morning Glory

 Pattern used Burda Style 8/2009 Blouse #117

 I used this light weight almost see through fabric as my muslin just to see if I liked the pattern. I really did not care if it turned out with the fabric as I have a lot of it and it is not my favorite.

The blouse is snug on the hips but I like how it fits else where. I typically wear it with blue jeans and flats but today I was in the mood for red.

Prairie Picnic Dress

The Kindergarten class that I work in had a Prairie Picnic last week where everyone got to wear something prairie inspired. I arose to the occasion and made myself a Prairie Dress and apron to wear.

I think I could wear this every day it is so comfy.

  Dress is a variation of Burda Style 1/2013 blouse #117 extended to ankle length.

 Without the apron the dress looks just like a Moo-moo. I liked this pattern before I made it a dress but now I don't think it would look right on me as a top.

Apron is self drafted.

 I was running out of time and did not want to make fabric ties on apron so I used ribbon instead. I love the result it gave me using ribbon.

I added a gypsy skirt I made Sierra under the dress so it would have a little more volume on bottom.

Burda Style Carmen Blouse 01/2013 #117 in jersey fabric

It's Been A Long Road Dress

I started Dress #137 from Burda Style 5/2010 way back in December of 2009 it was a plus size pattern so I did not add any seam allowance and took extra large seam allowance while sewing. I had it pretty much finished except for buttons and hemming, then January of 2011 I broke my wrist, so it got put aside and I put on some weight. I remembered it last January 2012 and finished it up but it was way too cold to take any pictures and I did not feel so well. Two weeks later I had to have a complete hysterectomy and I did not want to do any pictures because of lots of swelling from my incisions. I decided this dress was Bad Luck and put it away, that is until today when I thought "Hey, its January again, bring it on". So without further ado here it is, and I think I like it better now January 2013, than I did when I first started it. 

My Burda Style 5/2010 Dress #137 dress

I used a remnant of thin floral upholstery because of its heavier weight compared to plain cotton fabric. I wanted a dress I could wear on colder days. I only made one change to dress and that was I got rid of waist seam pockets.

The waist is a tad snug and the bust is a little loose and too low for me. I don't think that I will making  another. The all together shape of dress is to hour glass for me.

I don't have any complaints about the back, it fits my shoulders comfortably and the darts are just right.

I'll will defiantly have to wear a pretty slip or cami under this dress so I don't show off my chest with the dress being so low in the front. I had to pull front of dress up and slightly back to take these pictures, my bra was really showing.

Burda Style 5/2010 Dress #137 on their plus size model

I noticed that the model had the same issues with dress being low cut (showing bra) and the waist looks too snug.

Say No to Autumn Shorts

I made these shorts back in July for a Party that I was to attend and never got around to posting any pics. So, here we are two months later and the temperatures are lower and I have decided to model them. Boy was it cold and windy this morning, it didn't make for a fun shoot!

 They look a little oompa loompa but they are very comfy.

 I decided to roll the cuff up and stitch it in place, I think that it added to the look instead of the un-cuffed look.

 Ashley seen this location from a previous job he had done and decided it would a great place to take pictures.

 The fabric I used was the left overs from Daniels old Knights costume.

 I did not have a zipper to match the shorts so I used a purple zipper and it looks great.

Pattern used: Burda World Of Fashion 5/2010 Shorts #136

BWOF 2/2011 Dress 101

Sierra and I have been working on this on and off for about three weeks. We started off by working on two dresses one for both of us, but in the end only one of us was meant to have one.  

 The other dress, well it is hanging up in my closet waiting to be finished sometime in the future.

 We decided the other dress was going to be too small for Sierra so I gave her mine. Her original was all lined, mine as you can see just had the bottom lined.

This is a easy pattern but we added some extra layers and lining to it so it became hard for Sierra to do all by herself. That and the outer layer is super slick.

 The upper still needs some taking in but the rest is just fine.

 Next time I think we will go with something that is single layered so she can do all/more of the work.

 I added a cap sleeve effect to the shoulders of the dress, both of us had problems with the shoulders not staying in place.

 What I love about this dress pattern is it falls right above your natural waist and there for hides tummies.

   Model: Sierra

Dress: Sierra & Charlotte

Cute little brother: Daniel

Location: The Abandoned Spill Ways

Jewelry: Grandma

Gone Unnoticed, Until Now 3

 

 07/2011 Twisted strapless dress

Get the free how to on Burda Style to make your own.

Gone Unnoticed, Until Now

Gone unnoticed, until now, the patterns of Burda World Fashion Magazine that are posted for FREE on Burda Style. I already have all of these, I have the magazine subscription, but you may not.

3/2011 Tea-length Skirt #117 

Get It Here

 burda style magazine - 4/20... #103

Get it Here

4/2010 Girls' Skirt #132 

Get it Here

 5/2011 Mini Dress with Shirring #115

Get it Here

Bagging It?

Ok, I am having a dilemma here. I am usually in awe of almost

all of Vogues patterns but here lately I think that they have  

lost there minds when it comes to designing patterns. Now, 

I am no "Skinny Mini", I have some shape to me, most of the  

time I wear size 6-8 depending on brand and time of month.  

Have you not seen the shape to a lot of their new patterns  

and can you not say that there is not some "Major Saddle 

Baggage" action going on.

Here are some examples from Vogue Patterns Summer 2011 

 This poor model looks like she is about to be saddled to go out 

on a long excursion in the desert, I hope she remembered to 

pack her sun block.

 She's a stick and it doesn't look as "Oompa loompa" on her but, bless 

your little heart if you have HIPS and you make this to wear yourself.

 When I see this one I just think, "OK, where's she hiding it?". What, 

you might ask, is she hiding? Her luggage, no, her shape, or does 

she really have a big back side to go with the big hips! I mean, look 

how tiny her waist is, this skirt does nothing for her. The giant bow

 on the front reminds me of a old trick I learned when I first started 

to sew. You know the trick, the "Oops, I made a mistake, I know,

 lets put a bow over it" trick. I don't do that one any more, it is 

okay when you are under 18 but after that it is just sad.

 ____________________________________________________

Here are (in my opinion) Vogue's other hip disasters. 

 This top reminds me of a fairy dress with its pointed 

bottom sides and a Japanese wrap kimono. No, I don't 

think I will be making this one, I just can't bring myself 

to looking like Tinker Bell.

 To my understanding the above pattern is for ladies that 

have hips. When worn, the side hem line will even out to 

match the rest of the top. OR..... maybe they are trying to 

replicate the "stretched down side effect" that those with 

little kids get on all of their shirts. You know, in the mama 

crowd, that is fashionable, and almost every mom sports it in the

first five years of her kids life. Wait a minute, are 

they trying to say that moms are in style?

These are the only patterns that really made me question 

Vogue as a favorite pattern company. Vogue, if you read me,

 "I like and love the rest of your new line" it is the above patterns 

that I scratch my head at. These are solely my opinions!

BWOF 2/2010 104B

This is my favorite skirt that I have made yet!!!!

It is from Burda World Of Fashion February 2010 Skirt 104B

 I used a stiff black denim that I found at a local store, it was 

only 3/4 a yard remnant so I think I did great.

 I used the shorter version of the pattern because I am so short and it covers my knees.

 This is my favorite photo. Why, because it shows my side view and it proves that a good cut and fabric can make you look very slimming.

 In the back there are no pockets but who really needs extra pockets on a already awesome skirt.

 Ok, it looks as though the pocket is doing something crazy here, its not. I have pulled the pocket out so you can see that I have lined the inside with a checkered black/white cotton fabric.

Again with the pocket pull but back a bit. I did all of my stitching in grey to contrast the black and it turned out looking better than what I thought it would.

Note: I did not follow the waist band attachment steps exactly because I used denim instead of a light weight cotton and the band would have been difficult to sew if I did not change it a bit. I did not fold the band under on the inside, I finished the edges off neatly and layed them flat over the other edges that I tucked up under the inside of the band. When I finished it I stitch all the way around caught every thing in the stitches to eliminate the bulk.

Crazy Scarf

Yea, I know it don't take much to make a scarf. This scarf was made out of a remnant that was too narrow to do any thing else with and I haven't any scarfs that are not purple or blue. I found it at Wal-mart before they decided to get rid of the fabric aisle and no longer sell fabric. I had to cut away the crooked edges so that made it even narrower, then I sliced it right up the middle and joined the two ends together. After joining the ends it was one extremely long piece I finished off the edges by folding over 1/4" and zigzagging it down. I have already worn the scarf as a belt on a skirt (I was told this way looked stupid by a person that wears only black) and around my neck twice. Did I mention that I like scarfs.

So Wal-mart you thought that you were doing a smart move by removing all the fabric in my area well let me tell you this ALL of the quilters, hobbyists and Mennonite ladies (there are lots) now shop Jo Anns in the next big city. Who's smart now!

Cowgirl Petti Skirt

 Just an experiment to see if I could duplacate a skirt that I seen on another site. Yea, this one I have made looks alot like it!

 It's shorter and fuller than what I was going for but hey it was tons of fun to make.

First picture was taken by my son Daniel (age 6) next two my husband Ashley. I might have to have a little kids perspective more often.